The tech billionaire and proprietor of Tesla and Starlink, Elon Musk, has accused United States President Donald Trump of being one of many names within the still-sealed Epstein information, and claims that that is the true cause key paperwork are nonetheless being withheld from the general public.
In January 2024, most of the so-called “Epstein files” compiled by US federal investigators had been launched to the general public. Nevertheless, some remained sealed.
Trump’s presidency started with a robust enhance from Musk, who donated giant sums to Trump’s presidential marketing campaign and was appointed to steer a newly shaped federal company aimed toward streamlining authorities operations, the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
However that relationship fractured after Musk resigned from the role in Might 2025, following mounting public backlash over fiscal insurance policies and a pointy decline in Tesla’s inventory.
Since then, Musk has develop into more and more vocal in his criticism of Trump, calling his “One Massive Stunning Invoice” a “disgusting abomination” for rising the nationwide debt and eliminating electrical car subsidies, and, now, accusing him of hyperlinks to Epstein.
Right here’s what we all know concerning the Epstein information and Musk’s accusations.
What are the Epstein information?
The “Epstein information” are a group of paperwork compiled by US federal authorities throughout investigations into the actions of Jeffrey Epstein, the now-deceased financier and convicted intercourse offender.
These information embody flight logs, contact lists, courtroom information and different supplies documenting his actions and associations with high-profile people.
The primary main launch of the paperwork befell in January 2024, when a federal choose ordered the unsealing of information from a 2015 defamation lawsuit in opposition to Epstein’s affiliate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
In February 2025, the Division of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) adopted up with an official declassification of further paperwork, lots of which had already leaked, that includes redacted flight logs and speak to books.
Nevertheless, many paperwork stay sealed or closely redacted, prompting public requires full disclosure.
US Legal professional Basic Pamela Bondi said that the FBI is reviewing tens of 1000’s of paperwork, with additional releases pending necessary redactions to guard victims and ongoing investigations.
What has Musk stated concerning the Epstein information?
On Thursday, Musk publicly accused President Donald Trump of being named within the unreleased Epstein information.
In a submit on his social media platform X, Musk wrote: “@realDonaldTrump is within the Epstein information. That’s the actual cause they haven’t been made public.” He didn’t present any proof to assist this declare.
Time to drop the actually massive bomb:@realDonaldTrump is within the Epstein information. That’s the actual cause they haven’t been made public.
Have a pleasant day, DJT!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
Has Trump responded?
Trump has circuitously addressed Musk’s declare relating to the Epstein information.
Nevertheless, throughout a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the White Home on Thursday, Trump stated he was “very disillusioned” by Musk’s criticism of the fiscal invoice and prompt that Musk’s opposition was right down to the elimination of electrical car subsidies.
“Elon was ‘carrying skinny,’ I requested him to go away, I took away his EV Mandate that pressured everybody to purchase Electrical Automobiles that no person else needed (that he knew for months I used to be going to do!), and he simply went CRAZY!” Trump wrote in a social media submit on Thursday.
Trump additionally threatened to terminate federal contracts and subsidies for Musk’s corporations, together with Tesla and SpaceX, stating that this is able to save the US authorities billions of {dollars}.
What can we learn about Trump’s relationship with Epstein?
Trump and Epstein had been acquaintances within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, typically seen at social events collectively in New York and Palm Seashore, Florida. Their appearances collectively had been documented in information protection and social pages on the time, whereas US media reported the 2 grew to become shut throughout the Nineteen Nineties when Epstein purchased a mansion close to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Palm Seashore.
A 1992 video revealed by NBC Information exhibits Trump and Epstein socialising and watching dancers at a celebration hosted at Mar-a-Lago.
In a 2002 profile of Epstein by New York Journal, Trump was quoted describing Epstein as a “terrific man” who loved the corporate of gorgeous girls “on the youthful aspect”.
“I’ve identified Jeff for 15 years. Terrific man. He’s a number of enjoyable to be with. It’s even stated that he likes stunning girls as a lot as I do, and plenty of of them are on the youthful aspect,” Trump stated.
Flight logs launched throughout courtroom proceedings in opposition to Maxwell present that Trump flew on Epstein’s non-public jet at the least seven occasions between 1993 and 1997, often with relations.
Epstein’s “Black E book” – a contact listing obtained in 2015 by Gawker, a now-defunct US weblog that coated celebrities and media – was later submitted as courtroom proof and listed a number of cellphone numbers and addresses for Trump, together with his workplace, residence and Mar-a-Lago.
What occurs now?
As soon as allies, Musk’s relationship with Trump has deteriorated considerably since his criticism of Trump’s fiscal policy and subsequent allegations concerning the Epstein information.
Trump’s threats to chop federal contracts with Musk’s corporations led to a 14 percent drop in Tesla’s inventory worth. Musk has since referred to as for Trump’s impeachment and alternative with US Vice President JD Vance.
This public spat has additionally drawn consideration from political figures, with some Democrats demanding the discharge of the total Epstein information and questioning whether or not they’re being withheld resulting from potential implications for Trump.